Jennifer Dawes - Dawes Design

"I love a lot of things, and one of them has always been metalsmithing. Ever since I first learned how to work with it, I knew that's what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I have experimented with just about every aspect of metal, from working in construction to goldsmithing, and the smaller the work got, the more intimate, refined, and rewarding it got."

Charlie Herner, Jeremy Dunn - The Rephinery

Jewelry manufacturing is a hands-on process that holds immense appeal to us as craftsmen. The ability to develop and create new pieces each week keeps the tasks on hand feeling fresh and gives us valuable insight to the subtle nuances of the trade. Our craft grants us the personal gratification of increasing our skills and knowledge while keeping us thirsty for further discovery.

Julie Romanenko - Just Jules

"I think the best part of being a bench jeweler is the ability to bring an idea to life. I feel so blessed to have found this career, where at the end of a productive day, I have something tangible to show for my efforts. It makes me feel sorry for the pencil pushers of the world!"

There is a place in Seattle where every piece of jewelry you make would be custom. Can you imagine that career? 100% creative, focused on craftsmanship, figuring out just the right thing for each individual. Here are some images from the Green Lake Jewelry Works shop. Enjoy!

When Todd was 10 years old, he witnessed a silversmith at work, and it forever changed his perception of design. “I watched in awe as this man turned sheet metal into body adornment in what seemed to be a very short amount of time,” says Reed.

“I started to get interested in jewelry when I was 10, primarily watching and being interested in the craft of putting things together. By the age of 19 I had a studio and was teaching myself jewelry making and starting to realize what it took to turn idea into a well constructed finished piece. At this time I was a leathersmith and making silver adornments for handbags and leather jackets etc. I would simply adapt the ornaments to jewelry items by adding an ear wire or ring shank.”